Hair drier



April 12, 1932. w. H H. DAVIS HAIR DRIER Filed Mayvl 19.30

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTORQ N Maw/16 6f flflV/i wzwww I ATTORNEYS. v

April 12, 1932. w. H. H. DAVIS HAIR DRIER Filed May 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qoo o oooq mm INVENTOR. W/zz //7/*7/$. b. flay/a [0 M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. I2, 1932 WILLIAM H. H. DAVIS, OF SAN-FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA HAIR DRIER Application filed May 19,

This invention relates generally to hair driers of the type commonly used in beauty shops, which utilize electrical or equivalent means for producing a draft for drying air.

if Itis a general object of the invention to devise improved means in a drier of the above character for properly distributing dry air to the head of a subject, whereby the hair can be dried rapidly-and efficiently with the least 11 amount of discomfort to the user.

It is a further object of the invention to devise novel air distributing means in a hair drier whereby distribution of the air can be controlled at the will of the operator, and 1& whereby drying air can be concentratedup'on certain portions of the head tending to dry more slowly than other portions.

It is another object of the invention to devise a hair drier of such-construction that it can be readily manufactured, and will produce results superior to hair driers of similar character now on the market.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following'description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the appended claims are'to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent 8i) with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view illustrating a hair drier incorporating thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the hair drier shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, slightly enlarged, illustrating certain parts of my drier in cross section.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Electrical hair driers now in common use 45 1 are of two general types. In one type an electrical fan or blower together with electrical heating means serves to discharge a solid blast of air thru a simple discharge conduit or nozzle. A drier of this type requires fre-' "quent shifting of the discharge conduit to 1930. Serial No. 453,454.

direct the blast of air upon diiferenttparts of the head. Apparatus'of thiskind also re-' quires a relatively long time'to effect acoinplete drying operation, and it is frequently uncomfortable'to the subject-due to concen- 6a tration'of hot air upon one part of th'e head'.

' Another type of drier utilizes ahelnietwllicli' encloses or. encompasses the head, and this helmet is then connected to an air delivery conduit. Driers'of this character are :gene'r- 60 ally somewhat more efficient than the'first typedescribed, although'they are-not-asrapid as the invention to be'desc'ribed. Further-; more the hair on different parts'of the head does not dry uniformly, and because of the enclosure over the head, such driers areun-' comfortable to thesubject. Because of the complete enclosure over the head it is also impossible for the'operator to rearrange'the hair duringa drying'op'eration.

The drier of the present invention differs from the prior types of driers described above, in that the drying air is delivered in the form of jets to di'flt'erentwparts of the head of the subject. These jets are producedby an arrangement of air delivery pipes which are spaced apart to obviate the enclosing-sen sation of helmets, to permit the operator to rearrange the hair during a drying operation, and to generally-increase the effectiveness of the dryingair. Furthermore an arrangement of dampers or valves is employed'sd that during or near'the end of a *dryingoperation the drying air can be-controlled in such a manner as to be discharged upon those portions of "the subjects' head where the hair tends to-dry slowest.

The p-referredernbodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings consists of a shell- 10, generaly made of metal, and which can be conveniently formed in the shape of "a substantially cylindrical conduit. For delivering :a blast of drying air thru shell 10, I have shown electrical motor 11 havinga conventional fan 12' fixed to its shaft, the fan being arranged in shell 10 as shown in Fig. 4. Reinforcing ring 13 is secured to the rearend? of shell 10, 'thusprovidinig an opening =14 for" inflow "of air. A suitable screening or netting 16' can be arranged across opening 14, to preclude accidental contact of objects with the blades of fan 12. For convenience the hous ing of motor 11 can be carried by a suitable mounting 17 which in turn is fixed to the ring 13. Mounting 17 can include suitable electrical switches for controlling supply of current to the motor 11. The heating element to be presently described, can be controlled by switches in mounting 17 or by a separate cord switch 18.

The electrical heating element has been indicated generally at 21 and is shown arranged within an intermediate portion of shell 10 in front of fan 12. This element can be conveniently formed of a coil of resistance wire extended about the inner periphery of shell 10, and properly retained in operative position by the insulating support bracket 22. In making electrical connection to element 21 it is preferable to provide for a plurality of grades of heat, as for example low, medium and high.

The forward end of shell 10 is enclosed by a front wall 23, which for ease of manufacture can be pressed from a piece of-sheet metal. This wall carries a flange 24 for facilitating attachment to shell 10. For purposes which will be presently explained, wall 23 is preferably formed with a marginal portion 26, and with an inner portion 27 whlch is pressed or bulged outwardly with respect to the marginal portion 26. Inner portion 27 preferably occupies a substantial area as shown in Fig. 5, and is also preferably concave as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

As a part of the means for effecting proper distribution of the air from shell 10, I provide a plurality of air delivery pipes which have been designated 28, 29, 30 and 31. These pipes extend outwardly from wall 23, and communicate at their inner ends with the interior of shell 10 thru the marginal wall portion 26. The two pipes or tubes designated at 31 are adjacent the upper portion of wall 23, while the pipes 28, 29 and 30 are arranged along the sides ofthis wall. This grouping can be best appreciated by referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It will be noted that when the head of a subject is disposed with respect to the machine as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, pipes or tubes 28 and 29 at opposite sides of the machine extend adjacent the sides of the subjects head, pipes 30 extend adjacent those portions of the subjects head between the top and sides, and pipes 31 extend. over and adjacent to the top of the subjects head. It is preferable to have these pipes or tubes spaced as indicated, for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The discharge of air thru these pipes or tubes is preferably effected thru side openings, so as to form inwardly directed jets of air. Thus a series of perforations or openings 32,, 33, and 34 are provided upon the inner walls of pipes 29, 30 and 31, and a row of slots 36 is provided for each of the delivery pipes 28. lots 36 are relatively narrow and extend laterally with respect to the axis of pipe 28. It is evident that in place of these slots 36 each pipe 28 can also be provided with simple perforations as in the case of pipes 29, 30 and 31, although in many instances such slots are preferably for the lower pipes 28 in order to provide a greater amount of diffusion of air being delivered from the same. Angularly shaped deflectors 37 can be disposed within the shell 10' to cause air to be more efiectively delivered to pipes 28, 29, 30 and 31.

In addition to the distribution of air effected by the pipes 28, 29, 30 and 31, I preferably provide perforations 38 in the inner front Wall portion 27, thus permitting jets of air to be discharged upon the back of the subjects head. In addition to supplying air to the back of the subjects head, it is preferable to have provision for supplying drying air to a substantially lower area. In my invention this is made possible by providing a plurality of perforations 39 in the lower part of marginal portion 26, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Discharge of air at this point is frequently desirable to prevent uncomfortable swirling of cool air about the neck of the subject, and in order to adequately dry any hair which may be disposed adjacent this portion of the apparatus.

lVith the apparatus as described above it is apparent that in operation drying air will be supplied to all parts of the subjects head to effect simultaneous drying of all of the hair in one operation. It frequently happens however that certain parts of the hair will dry more rapidly than other parts. In this event it is desirable to have means under the control of an operator whereby flow of air can be reduced or entirely cut oil from those portions which have dried more rapidly, and to concentrate air upon the undried portions. In my invention this is made possible by an arrangement of independently adjustable valves or dampers. Thus adjacent the inner end of each of the air delivery pipes 28, 29, 30 and 31, I provide asimple valve 41 which can be adjusted to open, closed or intermediate positions, at the will of the operator. Likewise adjacent the inner surface of wall portion 27, I provide a sheet metal member 42, which is provided with perforations 43 adapted to register with perforations 38. A. bolt or equivalent means 44 serves to pivot member 42 relative to wall portion 27, and a spring 46 serves to retain there parts in close engagement. Manual operating lever 47 is connected to member 42, and extends to the exterior of the shell'thru a slot 48. By effecting annular adjustment of lever 47, it is apparent that the operator can bring perforations 43 in registry with perforations 38, so as to permit free discharge of air thru these perforations, or by other adjustments, flow of air can be restricted or entirely out off. Like-wise for controlling flow of air to perforations 39, I provide a sheet metal member 51 which is slidably retained in close engagement with the inner surface of marginal portion 26, adjacent the area of perforations 39. Member 51 is provided with perforations 52 adapted to register with perforations 39, and this member can likewise be adjusted by means of a manual lever 53.

With the apparatus described above it is apparent that the operator has full control over the distribution'of air, and in the event that one part of the hair dries more rapidly than the other parts, the supply of air to that part can be reduced or cut off and the air concentrated on the undried parts. Furthermore the distribution of air can be controlled to suit the peculiar conditions of a particular subject. It is characteristic of my apparatus that a complete drying operation can be carried out much more rapidly than with prior types of apparatus previously described. In fact the saving in time of is not unusual. I attribute the rapidity of the drying action not only to the fact that the distribution of air is under the complete control of the operator, but also to the directing of ets of air upon the head of the subject from the air de livery pipes 28, 29, 30 and 31. It will be noted that the rows of perforations of these air delivery pipes are spaced apart,due to the spacing apart of the pipes themselves, so that the jets delivered from one pipe are not diffused with the jets from another pipe before they are directed upon the head. Furthermore because of the substantially open character of the space in which the subjects head is enclosed, use of the drier by the subject does not cause an uncomfortable sensation, and the operator can arrange the hair while carrying out a drying operation.

It is of course evident that the apparatus can be mounted in any desired manner. For

' example as illustrated in the drawings the shell 10 is pivotally connected to a fork 56, which in turn is carried by a portable vertically adjustable standard 57. The appara tus can thus be moved to any desired position, and can be tilted slightly from the horizontal if desired.

I claim:

1. In a hair drying apparatus, a shell adapted to receive a current of air and having an end wall, a plurality of air delivery pipes extending forwardly from said end wall and communicating with the shell about the side and upper marginal portions of said end wall, said tubes having apertures in their side walls to deliver air laterally in opposite directions and downwardly, the inner portion of said end wall having perforations for delivering air outwardly from the shell, the lower marginal portion of said end wall hav- Li ing additional perforations for discharge of air, valve means-for" controlling flow of :air' thru said first named-perforations, andseparately adjustable valve means for controllingzflow of air thru the lowermarginal portion of said end wall. I

2. In a-hair-;drying apparatus, a shell adaptedto. receive, a current. of :air -=andjhauing an end wall, said end wall havingian inner; portion whichis concave. and which is bulged outwardly; beyond the. marginal; portion of' the; end Wall, ai rdelivery pipes. extending .forwardly from said marginal portionrand said inner portion and. communi eatingwith said shell, said pipes having openings for; delivering jets of, air upon. the head ofa subjectplaced in :from saidend wall, said end wall having perforations 1 in ,its inner portion-and in its lower marginal portion, valve. means for controlling flow ofnair thru theperforations in-said inner wallportion, and-additional valve means for controlling flow of air thru perforations insaid lower marginalaportion. e 3. Ina hair drier, a shell having cylindrical sidewalls, a. rear wall and a concave forward wall, saidrear wall and said forward wall having lair passages 'therethrough, a blower disposed within the shell for drawing air' through the passages in the rearnwall and; blowing the samethrough the passages in the front wall, a; heating element disposed withinpthe shell forheating the airpassing through; the shell, a, plurality of tubes extendi.ng1forwardly fromthe front wallof said shell and communicating with, the interiorof the shell, said tubes being arranged in, ;..U. formation -nearthe peripheral edge; of said forward wall, and baffle members disposed within the shellqffor deflecting air -.withinithe shell toward the inlet openings of said tubes;

4-11 alhair drier, a shell'having cylin- -drical side walls, a rear wall and a front wall,

said front wall having an interior concave portion surrounded by a substantially plane annular portion, said rear wall and said forward wall having air passages therethrough, the air passages in the front wall concave portion being relatively small and the passages in the front wall annular portion being relatively large, a blower disposed within the shell for drawing air through the passages in the rear wall and blowing the same through the passages in the front wall, a heating element disposed within the shell for heating the air passing through the shell, and a plurality of tubes extending forwardly from the front wall of said shell and communicating with the interior of the shell through the relatively large apertures in the annular portion of the front wall, said tubes being arranged in U formation about the annular portion of the front wall.

5. In a hair drier, a shell having cylindrical side walls, a rear wall and a front wall, said front wall having an interior concave portion surrounded by a substantially plane annular portion, said rear wall and said forward wall having air passages therethrough, the air passages in the front wall concave portion being relatively small and the passages in the front wall annular portion being relatively large, a blower disposed within the shell for drawing air through the passages in the rear wall and blowing the same through the passages in the front wall, a heating element disposed within the shell for heating the air passing through the shell, a plurality of tubes extending forwardly from the front wall of said shell and communicating With the interior of the shell through the relatively large apertures in the annular portion of the front wall, said tubes being arranged in U formation about the annular portion of the front wall, and bafile members disposed within the shell for deflecting air within the shell toward the inlet openings of said tubes.

6. In a hair drier, a shell having cylindrical side walls and a forward end wall, a blower disposed within the shell for causing a flow of air through the same, a. heating element disposed within the shell for heating said air fioW a plurality of air discharge tubes extending forwardly from the front wall of said shell and communicating with the interior of the shell through said front Wall, said tubes being arranged in U formation near the peripheral edge of said forward wall, and bafile members disposed within the shell for deflecting air flow within the shell toward and into the inlet openings of said tubes, said tubes having side openings for the discharge of jets of air.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. H. DAVIS. 

